Counselling in Victoria & Mill Bay, BC. Online across Canada
Ready for change? Let's turn your storm into a story of strength.
Trauma-informed counselling for individuals, couples, families & teens, in person at our Victoria & Mill Bay offices or online.
- Free 20-minute consult
- Rates from $35
- Direct billing
Counselling Rates in Victoria, Mill Bay, BC & Online
Pick the tier that fits your budget. Intern counsellors offer a free first session, and we direct bill most major extended health plans.
Three pricing tiers, based on experience & training
Quality support shouldn't depend on how much money you make. Our three pricing tiers reflect a counsellor's experience and training, so you can choose what fits your budget. Every tier is supervised, and you don't need to prove your income.
Three pricing tiers
Tier 1: Licensed counsellors
$150–$185
per hour [Individuals $150, Couples $185]
Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCC), Registered Social Workers (RSW) and Canadian Certified Counsellors (CCC) with full registration and years of clinical experience.
Best for people with complex or long-standing concerns, or when your extended health plan reimburses registered counsellors.
Tier 2: Counsellors awaiting registration
$100
per hour
Master's degree and practicum complete, now finishing the supervised hours required for full registration.
Best for people who want a trained, experienced counsellor at a lower rate than Tier 1.
Tier 3: Master's level intern counsellors
$35
per hour after the free first session. Couples sessions are $70.
Master's-level students in their clinical practicum, working under close supervision from our licensed team.
Best for people looking for low-cost counselling, or a no-cost way to find out whether therapy is right for you.
Not sure which tier fits? Get matched with a counsellor or book a free 20-minute consult.
Why work with a student counsellor?
Working with one of our intern counsellors isn't a lesser version of therapy, it's supervised, structured, and often exactly what people need: someone with fresh training, current research, and the time to focus fully on you.
Affordable: $35 per session after a free first visit, the lowest-barrier way to start therapy in Victoria or Mill Bay.
Supervised: every intern counsellor works under a licensed clinician who reviews their cases.
Current: students bring recent coursework and training in approaches like CBT, DBT, and trauma-informed care.
Selected carefully: we accept a small number of applicants from Master of Counselling and Master of Social Work programs, based on academic standing, interpersonal skill, and commitment to client care.
Areas our intern counsellors commonly support: stress and anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship and communication challenges, and grief and trauma.
Tier 1: Licensed Counsellors
Tier 2: Counsellors Awaiting Registration
Tier 3: Master’s Level Intern Counsellors
We put you first! Strength in Heart is a counselling service in Victoria, BC. Our counsellors practice from a compassionate & client-centred approach & use a combination of various forms of therapy to empower clients to physically, mentally, emotionally & spiritually thrive.
We view each client as the expert of their own story & work with each individual to develop a customized therapy approach that is designed for their specific needs & goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Mainly experience and credentials, not quality of care. Every counsellor at every tier is trained, supervised, and held to the same standard of confidentiality and professionalism. Tier 1 counsellors are fully licensed and typically have the most years of clinical experience. Tier 2 counsellors have finished their training and are completing supervised hours toward registration. Tier 3 counsellors are in their final practicum and work under direct, active supervision from our licensed team.
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Often, yes; our intern counsellors are trained in trauma-informed approaches and are closely supervised throughout. That said, if you're managing a crisis, a complex diagnosis, or something you've worked on unsuccessfully before, we may recommend starting with a Tier 1 or Tier 2 counsellor. We can help you figure out the right fit during your free consultation.
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The free first session applies specifically to Tier 3 (Master's-level intern counsellors). Tiers 1 and 2 offer a free 20-minute phone consultation before booking, but the first full session is paid at the regular rate for that tier.
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It depends on your plan. Some extended health plans only reimburse sessions with fully registered counsellors (RCC, RSW, CCC), which is Tier 1. If direct billing or reimbursement matters to you, check your plan's requirements, or ask us when you book, and we'll help you figure out which tier your coverage applies to.
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Yes. Plenty of clients start with a student counsellor and later move to a licensed one, or vice versa, depending on their needs and budget. Just let us know and we'll help you transition.
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No. You choose the tier that fits your budget.
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Couples sessions are $185 with licensed counsellors and $70 with intern counsellors.
Everyone deserves access to mental health support, whatever your budget looks like. Contact us to book a free consultation and we'll help you find the right counsellor and the right price point to get started.